Jos Claerbout (deceased) assembled a web site entitled "Culture Wars 101". It is the Web's first (and only?) objective tour of America's political and cultural battles over abortion, homosexuality, and the separation of church and state.

He began this work at Pomona College in 1995 and continued it after his graduation until the fall of 1997. Even during his life, he was seeking someone to help him maintain it. Since then, it has fallen far out of date, yet it remains an inspiration to many. Readership is rising steadily. Almost 2000 people came to read Culture Wars 101 in the first quarter of year 2000. Currently about 22 people per day come to read its most popular page. We have found and identified seven external sites that recommend Jos's Culture Wars site and the numbers are growing as the web expands.

This printing, assembled by his father, does what Jos did not want to do; it concatenates his material into linear print form (for temporary use only). As with many web publications, Jos's creation achieves much of its zest by the helter-skelter of outward links to the protagonists, to the news media, to the court cases, to the references, and to the humor. Readers of the print media will be largely unaware of these vital links as well as missing color in text, images, and background. Only a small portion is included here.

Truth is not partisan.

Culture Wars 101

Learn to get yourself published on this site and how to help this page.

Take The Tour Issues(abortion, homosexuality, separation of church and state....) Organizations (The Christian Right, The Secular Left, The Pro-Family Movement, The Religious Mainstream) Books Humor Keeping Up to Date Thought, Commentary & Miscellany	Late-Breaking News
Daily Judge Strikes Down Part of Net Porn Law Court Weighs Decency Standard in the Arts Anti-Abortion Activist Delivers Graphic Message Genetic Tests Can Lead to Tough Questions White Asks for Forgiveness Over Remarks Canada Court Backs Homosexual Rights Unsafe Sex Common Among Bisexual Men District's Refusal to Post 10 Commandments Upheld
News Archive

So what are these "Culture Wars?" Maintained by Johannes Claerbout

|Issues| |Organizations| |Thought and Commentary| |Books| |Humor| |Personal Research| | Staying up to Date| | All in one |

Culture Wars 101

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Abortion

Opinionated Overviews Abortion in the Bible Organizations That Deal With Abortion Abortion Links News Archives

I can't resist a few comments here. The links below give the impression of a bipolar America, split down the middle on abortion. Don't believe it. The issue of abortion, we can all agree, is incredibly complex. And just as you would imagine, the opinion of the American people is complex as well; far more so than a simple "pro-life" or "pro-choice" name tag. In fact, many of the polls you will read on these links will reach their conclusions (that America is definitely Pro-Life or decidedly Pro-Choice) by defining their terms differently. In truth, the percentage of the population who think that abortion should be either legal or illegal in absolutely all cases is no more than 10-15% on either side. The rest of us (a sizable 75% majority) try to deal with the issue the best we can. For more information on finding common ground in the abortion debate, I strongly recommend visiting The Common Ground Network for Life and Choice

One other thing - on nomenclature: In this page, I use the terms "Pro-Life" and "Pro Choice". This is an attempt to be nonpartisan. Others claim that "Pro-Choice" and "Anti-Abortion" are more accurate, and that may be true. Regardless, either is an improvement over Pro-Choicers' tendency to label their opponents as "Anti-Choice" (yes, technically, I suppose it's true) and Pro-Lifers' habit of labeling their opponents as pro-death. Heck, why not just dispense with the pleasantries and just go by "Pro-Genocide" and "Anti-Woman"?

Pro-Choice
Personhood, the Bible, and the Abortion Debate

Pro-Life
Abortion Perspectives

The Bible has nothing EXPLICITLY to say about abortion (i.e., nowhere is there a passage saying that it is wrong to abort a fetus before its birth). Of course there are many things the bible doesn't cover (somewhat hard to believe for those who have read Leviticus). Essentially, explicit silence doesn't mean that the Bible is not loaded with either implicit commandments or potentially inspiring words on this controversial subject. The inquisitive reader will never want for people offering their own interpretations of scripture. I have posted what I consider to be the better ones available here. Just because I label these perspectives as 'liberal' or 'conservative' does not mean that that they are not interesting and potentially valid biblical commentary; it just means that I want the reader to be aware of this as the page is read.

Non-Partisan
The Theology of Abortion  (U.S. News and World Report 3/9/92)


Pro-Choice
What does the Bible say about abortion?   Slight Liberal slant.
Abortion is Biblical   Strong Liberal slant
Abortion is not a sin


Pro-Life
The Bible and Abortion
Priests For Life

General Organizations

Pro-Choice
The National Abortion Federation
National Abortion Rights Action League

Pro-Life
National Right to Life
Operation Rescue
Stop Fetal Tissue Research!

Religious Organizations

Pro-Choice
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
California Catholics for Free Choice

Pro-Life
Catholics United For Life
Priests For Life




Additional Abortion Links & Pages

Pro-Choice
Friends of Choice for Men   Do you think that fatherhood should be voluntary?
First Church of Christ, Abortionist   Don't say I didn't warn you.
Medical Students for Choice
Our Bodies, Our Souls   A fine essay.

Pro-Life
Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians   (and you thought *you* didn't fit in?)
Feminists For Life   Don't doubt for a second that a feminist can be Pro-Life.
LeftOut
The Ultimate Pro-Life Resource List   They live up to the name.

The American court system has not been a hospitable place for the views of religious conservatives. Rulings on school prayer [Engel vs. Vitale (1962) and Abington vs. Shempp (1963)] and the Bible in classrooms in the 1960s started what has been seen by many as an attempt to expunge God from the classroom entirely. While the court decisions on prayer are seen as troubling, it was Roe Vs. Wade (1973) that convinced religious conservatives the Supreme Court would be a future battlefield.

The Supreme Court, Fundamentalist Logic, and the term Religion (Journal of Church and State)[article]

This article provides an excellent overview of the High Court's rulings regarding religion in addition to the trouble they've had defining the term 'religion' itself.

The Imperial Judiciary: Placing Justice Back in America's Courts (The American Center for Law and Justice)
The End Of Democracy? The Judicial Usurpation of Politics

This November '96 issue of First Things created quite a stir when it came out. The articles contained herein question the judgment and even validity of an "imperial judiciary" that makes decisions many view as intolerable or even immoral. This particular issue symbolizes for many the official split between the theological and political conservatives. Why not take a peek?


The End of Democracy? A Discussion Continued

After a rancorous month, and the resignation of several members of the journal's board, First Things continued their discussion with more opinions. Why stop the fun now?


Clear and Present Danger:   The New Far Right Judicial Litmus Test
The Imperial Judiciary   (Christian American)

The Cult of Scalia   By saying "This Court has mistaken a kulturkampf for a fit of spite" [ Romer Vs. Evans (1996)]   Antonin Scalia earned himself a place in any discussion of the American culture war.
USSC+ Online   Oh boy! Searchable court decisions!
FindLaw Legal Internet Guide   More cases! Why leave your house?

N.J. Adoption Ruling Could Have Wide Impact
Court Rejects Religious Bias Case
Court Limits Divorced Father's Church Teaching
States Can Keep Predators Locked Up, Court Rules (Detroit News 6/24/97)
Steamrolled and Bulldozed (John Leo, US News and World Report 5/12/97)
Court Casts Pall over Parental Rights Bill (Policy Review 4/97)
Republican Lawmakers go on the Offensive Against Activist Judges (Detroit News 4/27/97)
Court Mulls Abortion Clinic Pickets (USA Today 4/29/97)
Gospel According to the Court: Tax Bible Sales (Philadephia Daily News 5/2/97)

The Separation of Church and State

History of the "Separation of Church and State" Differing Interpretations

Hoo boy. This one ain't easy. Now, before we jump in, let me just point a few things out. The people listed on this page are not polar opposites. No one here is trying to establish a theocracy (I'll put in links to Christian Reconstructionists later) and no one is trying to persecute others for their beliefs. This still being America, we all fall somewhere in between.

One's ideas regarding the 'proper' role of religion vis a vis the state clearly goes straight to the heart of all of these debates. As such, the stakes are high. The 'original intent' of the framers in crafting the first amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof", has been hotly debated by those who know far more about these things than I. Indeed, to secure the blessing of the Founding Fathers on their own interpretation of the proper lines between Church and State is seen by many as the 'brass ring' of this overall debate.

I fear, however, that such partisans are subject to the same 'prooftexting' that has hindered and perverted the reading of the Bible for millennia. Plunging into history (be it constitutional or otherwise) already armed with firm answers almost guarantees that one shall find the exact viewpoint which one seeks.

As you browse through the following pages, the most important thing to remember is that anything can be taken out of context, and that to build firm convictions about the intentions of the founders of this country (or anyone else, for that matter) by reading a few phrases plucked out of historical context is not a sign of intellectual rigor.


A Very Brief History

The mere phrase, "a wall of separation between church and state" is continually invoked in the debate over the role of religion in public life. The American author of this phrase was none other than Thomas Jefferson, who wrote it in his letter to the Danbury Baptists. After reading this brief letter, the reader will conclude that "the separation of church and state" had for Jefferson none of the meaning that it has for today's "strict separationists". All that is clear from the letter is that Jefferson felt that the state should have no control over the minds of its citizens.

Jefferson himself is a very problematic figure for those seeking an answer rooted in the opinions of the founders. His legitimacy to interpret the constitution is questioned by some, because, after all, he did not attend the constitutional convention. However, he did write the Declaration of Independence, which makes explicit that, as humans, our rights derive from our creator (although for Jefferson, this was almost certainly not the God of Christianity).

Jefferson and Madison and the Legacy of Virginia
Besides Jefferson's aforementioned letter, those who interpret a strict separation between church and state pay particular attention to a series of events that took place in the Virginia legislature shortly after the American revolution. Without going into too much detail (gotta keep things moving), a bill was introduced which would collect a tax from the citizens to be given to local churches. Although the tax-payer could decide which church was to receive the "donation", the tax was to be required by law.




This was simply too much for Jefferson and Madison. James Madison (soon enough to become president) wrote a multi-point argument against the proposed legislation, his famed Memorial and Remonstrance. The writing was said to have such an effect on the citizens as well as the lawmakers that the bill to establish a "religious tax" was voted down the next year. Riding on the crest of this victory, Jefferson and his supporters pushed through Jefferson's Bill to Establish Religious Liberty, another much quoted document.

There have been several more scholarly histories and interpretations of the events listed above. Follow these links to read people more academic discussions:

Principled Separation: Liberal Governance and Religious Free Exercise (Journal of Church and State)

To illustrate the divergent opinions that people derive from the writings of the founders, I provide the following links for the so inclined:

Click here to see all the nice things that the founders had to say about religion.
The Founding Fathers Were Not Christians!

Minister Battles To Maintain Separation of Church and State
Separation of Church and State Home Page
Separation No Myth
The View of the Baptist Joint Committee
Pro-Socs

The Myth of Separation of Church and State
Separation of Church and State - Has it Gone too Far?
The Separation of Church and State: The Leftist Battle Cry

Homosexuality

Homosexuality in the Bible Organizations dealing with homosexuality Statistics and opinions about homosexuality News Archives

Depending on whom you ask, the growing public debate about homosexuality is either about an heroic struggle for civil rights or yet another indicator of society's general moral decline.

Homosexuality in the Bible

The first proscriptions against homosexuality found in the Bible are in the Torah, or Pentatuch: the first five books. If you manage to make it through the first eighteen chapters of Leviticus (no small task in itself), you will come across the seemingly unambiguous commandment:

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is an abomination."

Two chapters later, in Leviticus 20:13, another commandment is given:

"If a man committed an abomination; they should surely be put to death...."

In the new testament, Paul writes of what happens to people when they turn from God (Romans 1:26-1:27):

"Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error."

To give another example; in the New Revised Standard Version, 1 Corinthians 6:9 is translated as:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God."

And finally, who could forget poor Sodom? The fate of this unfortunate town was sealed when the town's men actually attempted to rape an angel of God (not a wise move in anyone's play book).

As you can imagine, the above citations, like anything in the bible, are hotly debated. Recently, a large body of scholarly work has emerged contesting the traditional interpretation of the above citations.

A good summary of work contesting 'traditional' interpretations of the Bible's words about homosexuality.

A good defense of the 'traditional' interpretation of the Bible's words about homosexuality

Accepting of Homosexuality


Political Organizations and Lobbying Groups
Human Rights Campaign
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation


Religious Sites That are Accepting of Homosexuality

The Metropolitan Community Church
Sexuality, Marriage, and Christian Values: Arguments for Including Gays in Full Christian Fellowship


Information Sites and Links Pages

The Queer Resource Directory



Not Accepting of Homosexuality

Political Organizations and Lobbying Groups

The American Family Association
The Traditional Values Coalition

Homosexuality Conversion Ministries

Leadership U's Stonewall
Ex-Gay Ministries

Information Sites and Links Pages

The Homosexual Threat

I find it hard to resist comment that this page, with section titles such as "HOMOSEXUALS HAVE SEX IN PUBLIC PLACES" and "EVIDENCE OF JEWISH SUPPORT OF HOMOSEXUAL CULTURE" is not for the faint of heart. For those who think that the public debate over homosexuality is marked by too much civility and "middle of the road" squeamishness, then this is the site for you.

Comprehensive pages on Homosexuality

Non-Partisan

Should Gays be granted Special Protected class status?

Not accepting of Homosexuality
Special Class Protections for Self-Alleged Gays: A Question of "Orientation" and Consequences
Homosexuality in America: Exposing the Myths (The American Family Association)



On the Origins of Homosexuality


Genetic

New Study Finds Genetic Link to Homosexuality


Genetic/Environmental

NIH Study Indicates that Homosexuality is Learned (The Family Research Council)
Statement of Dr. Jeffrey Stainover, M.D., in support of the Defense of Marriage Act (The Family Research Council)
A Learned Trait
Special Class Protections for Self-Alleged Gays: A Question of "Orientation" and Consequences
"Homosexuality" A Christian Perspective



Non-partisan

Biological Determination of Sexuality Heating Up as a Research Field

When people speak of the "Christian Right", they are talking primarily about one of the following six organizations:

The Family Research Council
The Christian Coalition
The American Family Association
Concerned Women For America
The Eagle Forum
The Traditional Values Coalition

There are, in addition to these groups, several other organizations that, while religious and conservative, are not as overtly political as the groups above. These groups include:

Promise Keepers
Focus on the Family

This is a link to the UNOFFICIAL site. The official site does not yet exist.

Wallbuilders Inc.
The Free Congress Foundation
The 700 Club
The Rutherford Institute

There are several groups that have entered the political world to oppose the efforts of these religious conservatives. The main organizations involved in this effort are:

People for the American Way
The Interfaith Alliance
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
The Institute for First Amendment Studies
The ACLU

In addition to the above organizations, there are literally dozens of sites dedicated to "fighting the religious right". Below are the best examples:

The Interfaith Working Group
The Queer Resource Directory

Government is not God PAC
The Rutherford Institute
The Institute for the Study of Religion in Politics

Finally, this group below presents a *relatively* balanced view of most topics. (Although the careful reader won't have much trouble finding the liberal slant)

The Ontario Center For Religious Tolerance

Humor

Schools Abortion Homosexuality Religion In General Misc.

Originally, I was going to chastise visitors for going to this page first, without first looking at the more substantive links. On second thought, it might be a good thing. Now, I'm not sure of the biology of this, but I suspect that the funny bone isn't that far away from the brain, and that if a silly joke or accurate cartoon makes you laugh, it might just get you to see the opinion of those you've always laughed at, rather than with.

Now that none of us feel guilty about this, let's get the chuckles rolling!

Schools

"Vital Necessities"

Abortion

Taco Bell Launches New "Morning After" Burrito (The Onion 3/3/97)

If this were less demented, it would be satire.

Homosexuality

Buchanan Woos Gay Vote: 'I Promise I Will Not Incinerate You' (The Onion Archives)
Gay Recruiting

Religion In General

The Church of the Blind Chihuahua

The Courage to be Ridiculous Before God

Reverend Fun
Post fundmentalism

Not much to add there, really.

Monk Gloats After Yoga Championship: 'I Am the Serenest!' he says (The Onion Archives)
Christ Returns to the NBA (The Onion Archives)
Churches ad hoc: a divine comedy, by Herman Krieger

A beautiful collection of photos showing the lighter side of church facades. Extreme pun warning.

Misc.

The Founding Fathers

Through cartoons, the virtual Founding Fathers tackle all the tough questions, from abortion and evolution to inter-racial marriage and drug legalization. Quite possibly one of the strangest things I've ever seen.

Schools

Public Schools Private Schools (Vouchers) Homeschooling News Archive

The public schools are the "ground zero" of the culture war. Due to economic constraints, attendance is essentially compulsory and religious conservatives feel that the schools are an increasingly inhospitable environment. Religious conservatives feel that the schools restrict their childrens' rights of religious observance while pushing a 'secular humanist' agenda of sex education, religion-free classrooms, and 'situation ethics'. The offenses of the public schools in the eyes of religious conservatives, then, are of both omission and commission.

On a historical note, conservative Protestants had seen the public schools as an ally in the first part of the century, where they served as a tool of assimilation for the children of Catholics. Of course, the King James Bible was read in the classrooms in those days, and things were *quite* different. The changing environment of the public schools has changed a feeling of alliance between conservative Christians and their public schools to one of betrayal.

Students' Rights and the Public Schools   (The American Center for Law and Justice)
Public Schools: Battleground or Common Ground?
Attacks on the Freedom to Learn   (People for the American Way)
Case Studies of Religious Right School Board Campaigns in Pennsylvania and Texas   (People for the American Way)


Sex Education
The Religious Right's Campaign against Sexuality Education   (People for the American Way)
Sex Education: What Works?   (The Family Research Council)


Prayer in Schools
Prayer in the Public Schools   (A somewhat liberal view)


School Reform
Misconceptions About Goals 2000: The Educate America Act   (US Dept. of Education)



Organizations that deal with Schools
Citizens for Excellence in Education

Vouchers



Pro-Voucher


School Choice and Voucher Report
With Liberty and Justice for all: Redefining the Educational Choice Debate


Anti-Voucher
The Case Against Vouchers
Home schoolers against vouchers





Why the Need for Private Schools?

The Separation of School and State Alliance

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is by no means exclusively a phenomenon among religious conservatives. Indeed, many parents homeschool their children for what could be considered "liberal" reasons. Regardless, the homeschooling movement has grown tremendously in the last ten years, and many see it as an "escape valve" for parents fed up with the public schools.

Why Homeschool?

Homeschoolers: Pioneers of Freedom
Biblical Foundations for Homeschooling
Christian Homeschool Forum: Homeschool FAQs
Unschooling Undefined



Homeschooling Organizations


Christian Homeschool Forum
Homeschool World

News Archive

Public Schools Teach Bible as History
Immersion Vs. Bilingual Education
Early American Samplers: You Go, Schoolgirl!
Clinton Extends Education Agenda to Urban Schools
Public School Shopping in Delaware
School Investigating Christmas Card Case
Is Faith the Answer for Urban Schools?
Putting Faith in School Successes
An Exodus From the Public Schools
Church Programs Improving Grades of Black Students
US Judge Curtails Religious Acts in Alabama Schools
A New Breed of School is Born; Charters blend private, public
Lawmakers Again Propose School Vouchers for District
Librarians Vote to Keep Gay Sex Book Belmont copy hidden by 2 patrons in protest
High Marks for School Choice (Washington Post 8/6/97)
L. Ron Hubbard Books in Public Schools? (Philadelphia Daily News 7/30/97)
Backing From Blacks Adds Momentum to Vouchers (Phiadelphia Daily News 7/28/97)
Black Support Grows for School Voucher Programs (Akron Beacon Journal 7/28/97)
Schools Nationwide Study Chicago's School Reforms (Chicago Sun Times 7/6/97)
Supreme Court Ruling May Boost Ohio Voucher Plan (Columbus Dispatch 6/24/97)
Parochial School Teaching May be Aided by Federal Funds, Court Says (New York Law Journal 6/24/97)
Bible-Study Fight Grows as Schools Resurrect 'World's Oldest Textbook' (Detroit News 6/20/97) Controversial Counselors in Elementary Schools (US News and World Report 5/17/97)
School Vouchers Revisited: Studies Show Benefits (SF Chronicle 5/12/97)
School District Ruled Unlawful (National Law Journal 5/8/97)
Poor Kids Have Worst Schools, Survey Finds (S.F. Chronicle 5/4/97)
Play at Greeley High Draws Protests (Denver Post 4/27/97)
Study Blasts Abstinence-Only Sex Education (San Francisco Chronicle 4/29/97
School Prayer Proponents Began Battle with House Bill (JTA 5/8/97)